General dumb question

[Medic]

Sorry for the dumb question, i have just bought a new 2015 Jayco Eagle outback and the pick up day is in a couple of weeks. I have booked the 100 series in to make sure its good to go and have the trailer plug changed to a 12 pin plug. I have a tekonsha voyager brake controller so hopefully i will be good to go. My question is as I have never bought a new camper before, will they go through everything with my wife when she picks it up? We have never used the brake controller before, do they set it for you? Im just not sure of procedure when you pick one of these things up. Its coming from Page Bros in Seaford, I am working so the wife is picking it up, Is there anything i need to tell her? (apart from drive safely)

Cheers

[Goose]

Its pretty normal that the dealer will go through everything with you at handover plus answer questions over the phone early on. You could call the dealer now and explain that its just your wife who is going to be there and for them to give extra help. You could also possibly get your wife to record what the dealer says at handover using her mobile in her pocket.

However the dealer can't show you how to drive in traffic with a trailer, so if its her first time with a trailer best get someone to go with her.

If your brake controller is already installed and wired to the rear trailer socket, then all you should have to do is plug in the trailer. Most have a way of indicatng that they can see the trailer connected. I odn't have tekonsha but red arc shows a green light as soon as trailer is plugged in. Ask your wife to ask the dealer to help with a brake test ... ie.. drive a little way in the yard with the trailer on, apply brakes, confirm the brake drum on the trailer engages (the hub brakes usually make a clunnking noise as they engage which someone walking beside the trailer can easily hear) Expect dealer to be familiar with most common controllers...

[muzza01]

It would be good to make your controller is working correctly by testing on a friends CT before you pick it up.
You should review the instructions on how to use it. It should have a tuning button on the controller to adjust the level of braking. The button could be like a volume control or a three stage setting that other Voyagers have that I have seen.

The 3 stage setting is A for delayed, B for normal and C for aggressive. I suggest option B.

I recommend adjusting or at least checking the adjustment of your CT brakes when you get it home to ensure they are actively working and equal in brake strength.

Jayco will go thru the setup with your wife but she may forget by the time she gets home. There are plenty of Eagle owners on the forum here so they will assist with the many questions you may have down the track.

Tell your wife to allow a much greater breaking distance while towing until she gets a good feel for the CT brakes.

[Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback]

Sorry for the dumb question, i have just bought a new 2015 Jayco Eagle outback and the pick up day is in a couple of weeks. I have booked the 100 series in to make sure its good to go and have the trailer plug changed to a 12 pin plug. I have a tekonsha voyager brake controller so hopefully i will be good to go. My question is as I have never bought a new camper before, will they go through everything with my wife when she picks it up? We have never used the brake controller before, do they set it for you? Im just not sure of procedure when you pick one of these things up. Its coming from Page Bros in Seaford, I am working so the wife is picking it up, Is there anything i need to tell her? (apart from drive safely)

Cheers

I had my brake controller installed at the time Brisbane Camperland did the hand over on our Swift. Before I set off the tech who did the handover jumped in the car with me for quick spin around the block getting a rough setting for the controller and explaining how it worked to me. Perhaps they could do something similar for your wife.

In terms of going over the set up this is a good video to show you how its all done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Id-M3ArCM
Its a bit dated now but I'm sure its still a good guide for 2015 models. Remember once you do it yourself you will put your own spin on it and change things to make them work better for you. 

[scblack]

It would be good to make your controller is working correctly by testing on a friends CT before you pick it up.

I agree wholly here.

My father in law had a brake controller installed a week before picking up a CT a few years ago. He had never driven with trailer brakes before. I hopped in and realised the trailer brakes were not working. The dealer hopped in too as he was worried the CT was faulty. Problem was the auto electrician who installed the brake controller had reversed a couple of wires and it only took one minute to correct.

So get the operation checked before pickup if you can.

[gronk]

You don't want the camper brakes locking up every time your wife hits the brakes, so make sure they go with her around the block and set them up for her !

[sol]

Sorry for the dumb question, i have just bought a new 2015 Jayco Eagle outback and the pick up day is in a couple of weeks. I have booked the 100 series in to make sure its good to go and have the trailer plug changed to a 12 pin plug. I have a tekonsha voyager brake controller so hopefully i will be good to go. My question is as I have never bought a new camper before, will they go through everything with my wife when she picks it up? We have never used the brake controller before, do they set it for you? Im just not sure of procedure when you pick one of these things up. Its coming from Page Bros in Seaford, I am working so the wife is picking it up, Is there anything i need to tell her? (apart from drive safely)

Cheers

It's not a dumb question mate 
Better to be safe than sorry

         

[MDS69]

Be patient with your wife when you ask her questions and she doesn't remember what they told her on handover. It is overwhelming trying to remember everything. Maybe write a list of things you want to know.
How to run the fridge on gas/12V/240 - that one we can answer easily here or expandersdownunder.com
How to open up the wind up bit. What order to undo clips etc
How to close the camper - what order to unclip, fold in latch etc
When to have the battery switch on etc etc
Water pump operation (if fitted)
Etc etc
What options did you go for.

[theins]

Sorry for the dumb question, i have just bought a new 2015 Jayco Eagle outback and the pick up day is in a couple of weeks. I have booked the 100 series in to make sure its good to go and have the trailer plug changed to a 12 pin plug. I have a tekonsha voyager brake controller so hopefully i will be good to go. My question is as I have never bought a new camper before, will they go through everything with my wife when she picks it up? We have never used the brake controller before, do they set it for you? Im just not sure of procedure when you pick one of these things up. Its coming from Page Bros in Seaford, I am working so the wife is picking it up, Is there anything i need to tell her? (apart from drive safely)

Cheers

I assume that your wife is comfortable driving with a trailer in tow? If not borrow one and get her to spend a bit of time driving with a trailer. If it is only re the brakes then ask the dealer to spend time with her to get them set up initially. As you wear in the brakes you will need to adjust the controller anyway...
Hope this helps.

[steelman]

Hi,
Sounds great. In all the excitement of a new purchase can I just say to get insurance sorted before you drive it. In the middle of car purchase myself and have the same issues. Enjoy.

[Medic]

I knew I joined the right forum, thanks for all your help guys. I might get her to read your posts so she can take things in. She is used to driving horse floats and im not ashamed to say she will be teaching me. But im sure ill have more questions, so thanks for your patience.

[ATC]

Yeah - insurance before you pick up

Have you towed in traffic, scary as hell towing something long & big in traffic.

I always give way to semi's and busses now, they need the space.

Braking distances, and corners, particularly if you momentarily forget you have a trailer on.......

[RebsWA]

Your Tekonsha voyager will have 2 thumbwheels to set it up.
One adjusts for the orientation of the unit in the cab (IE is it sitting flat and horozontal by the transmission shift lever or is it facing up hill above your leg somewhere?)
The other adjusts the power that is sent to the trailer brakes (IE min to max)
Unless these are set properly you may have no trailer brakes or maximum brakes or somewhere in between every time you touch the brake pedal.
Make sure it is set correctly before SWMBO sets off on her own.
Here is a link to adjustment proceedure.
http://tekonsha.com/support/installation/N9030.pdf

[Redcherokee]

Allow more time than you think - an hour or two can zip past.  They should go through set up and pack down.  Get her to try doing it herself after they show her.  Don't worry about taking up time or being a nuisance, heaps of people do exactly this. They may appear unenthusiastic, but actually it is a normal request. Also get her to do as much of the setup/down as she can completely by herself (which should be all of it unless vertically challenged/strength is an issue).  She may need to assertively resist help to do this, as the handover rep likes to 'make it easy for you' which reduces your learning.

Try really hard not to say "why didn't you ask.. ".  We all think of heaps of stuff to ask after pickup, and at the time it is a stressful exciting blur.  And however it is parked at home is perfect.

First time you set it up by yourselves -hopefully soon- you will struggle with some bits and that is the same with all of us.

Then get out there and have fun!

[evaredy]

There is no such thing as a dumb question 

Before your wife goes to get the camper, sit down with her and together write a list of questions you want answers to as well as any explanation of things.

If you can, get a friend to go with your wife and have them video the whole thing, answers to the questions as well as the complete setup and pack up. That way you will have a record of what to do if she forgets anything.

[zzzaaazzz]

Have her take a camera phone and video. A bit weird but it takes all the pressure of remembering.

That said, I'd probably reschedule so I could attend.

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